Wednesday's Liam Palmer clears under pressure from Swansea pair Liam Cullen and Yan Dhanda
Swansea City were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield Wednesday as Tony Pulis claimed his first point as Owls boss.
Wednesday were on course for victory after Adam Reach scored from a well-worked corner to give Pulis' team a deserved lead at the break.
But Swansea, who have lost only twice in the league this season, improved significantly in the second half and levelled thanks to a classy finish from six-goal leading scorer Andre Aye.
Yet a disciplined, hard-working Wednesday display was enough to deny Swansea a fourth successive home victory and give Pulis his first positive result since taking over from Garry Monk on 13 November.
The draw means Swansea stay fourth in the Championship, while Wednesday remain 23rd.
The vastly experienced Pulis has only been in charge at Hillsborough for 12 days, yet already there are signs that he is making a mark.
Swansea made so little impact going forward in the first 45 minutes that it felt as if Wednesday had an extra man on the pitch.
With Pulis - typically - barking a blend of orders and words of encouragement throughout, his rearguard kept Swansea at bay with some comfort.
The only threats were from the visitors, with Julian Borner firing a shot straight at Swansea keeper Freddie Woodman after a throw-in was not cleared.
Pulis is renowned for his set-piece work, so perhaps it was no surprise that the opening goal of his reign - and Wednesday's first aside from a penalty against Bournemouth in 632 minutes of Championship football - came from a dead ball.
With a crowd of players in the six-yard box, Barry Bannan rolled the ball low towards the penalty spot and the unmarked Reach stroked home first time.
Swansea's Ryan Bennett rises highest to win a header
In need of a response, Swans boss Steve Cooper sent on Kasey Palmer and fit-again Ayew at the break and the latter immediately had a hand in creating the home side's first chance as Jamal Lowe shot wide at the near post.
Palmer then saw a deflected effort saved by Joe Wildsmith - who had come on in the first half after Keiren Westwood limped off clutching his groin - before Ayew's class brought the leveller.
The Ghana captain had plenty of work to do when he picked up possession in the penalty area, but skipped away from a couple of defenders before guiding a shot into the far corner of the net.
Swansea were now the side asking questions in attack, with Yan Dhanda twice going close with long-range efforts before Ayew's late drive was pushed over the bar by Wildsmith.
And there was frustration for the hosts right at the end when they screamed for handball during a scramble in the Wednesday box but referee Andy Woolmer waved appeals away.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSwansea
- 1Woodman44CabangoBooked at 26mins2Bennett26NaughtonSubstituted forPalmerat 45'minutes23Roberts7Smith8GrimesBooked at 48mins24BidwellSubstituted forManningat 61'minutes21DhandaBooked at 57mins9LoweSubstituted forRoutledgeat 61'minutes20CullenSubstituted forA Ayewat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Manning6Fulton10A Ayew13Benda15Routledge22Latibeaudiere30Rushesha31Cooper45Palmer
Sheff Wed
- 1WestwoodSubstituted forWildsmithat 14'minutes2Palmer15Lees13Börner4van AkenSubstituted forShawat 69'minutes22Odubajo5Paterson10Bannan21LuongoSubstituted forPelupessyat 70'minutes11Reach20RhodesSubstituted forKachungaat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Pelupessy14Penney17Dele-Bashiru19Urhoghide24Brown26Shaw28Wildsmith29Hunt45Kachunga
Referee:Andy WoolmerMatch StatsHome TeamSwanseaAway TeamSheff WedPossessionHome64%Away36%ShotsHome10Away4Shots on TargetHome4Away2CornersHome6Away3FoulsHome11Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Swansea City 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Swansea City 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
90'+5'Post update
Hand ball by André Ayew (Swansea City).
90'+5'Post update
Attempt blocked. André Ayew (Swansea City) header from very close range is blocked.
90'+5'Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
90'+4'Post update
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Elias Kachunga (Sheffield Wednesday).
90'+4'Post update
Connor Roberts (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday).
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Joe Wildsmith.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt saved. André Ayew (Swansea City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Korey Smith.
90'+1'Post update
Hand ball by Moses Odubajo (Sheffield Wednesday).
90'Post update
Foul by Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
90'Post update
Liam Shaw (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
86'Post update
Attempt saved. Matt Grimes (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Connor Roberts.
81'Post update
Foul by Connor Roberts (Swansea City).
81'Post update
Callum Paterson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'Post update
Attempt missed. Yan Dhanda (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com